The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Borough Treasurer Ann Ryans to find out what the Council is doing to ensure that dementia sufferers and their carers receive the exemptions from Council Tax that they are entitled to.
Anyone with a severe mental impairment, such as dementia, is exempt from paying Council Tax, which means that people with the condition who live alone do not have to pay any Council Tax and those living with a carer will still receive a 25% reduction in their bill.
Councillor Sykes explained why he is concerned: “A recent survey by the website MoneySavingExpert.com has found that up to 100,000 people are wrongly paying Council Tax because they were unaware of these exemptions. This situation appears to have been worsened because in a mystery shopping exercise conducted by the website it was found that two thirds of local authorities contacted failed to give callers the correct information about their entitlement.”
“Martyn Lewis, the founder of this website, described the situation as a ‘postcode lottery’ and I concur. Dementia is an appalling disease and it is both tragic and criminal that sufferers should have to face the additional indignity of paying a charge for which they are not legally liable.”
Councillor Sykes has written to Ms Ryans asking for information as to what Oldham Council is doing to be an exemplar local authority in this field – “one, to ensure that applicants and their families/carers receive the right information every time and two that we have 100% take up, or as near as is possible, of the exemption for those who are eligible?”
Copy of email below:
From: Howard Sykes
Sent: 10 December 2017 14:43
To: Anne Ryans <Anne.Ryans@oldham.gov.uk>
Cc: Kay Gibson <Kay.Gibson@oldham.gov.uk>
Subject: Dementia and Council Tax
Dear Ms. Ryans,
The media has recently reported the findings of a survey by the website, Money-Saving Expert, that up to 100,000 people could be wrongly paying Council Tax because they are unaware they qualify for an exemption.
Dementia is classed as a severe mental impairment meaning that sufferers living alone are entitled to a 100 percent exemption from Council Tax, whilst a household with a dementia sufferer and a carer will still receive a 25% discount.
It is reported that a mystery shopping poll of local authorities found that two thirds of Councils were unable to provide accurate information about the exemption and how to apply for it. This is both tragic and criminal as sufferers should not have to suffer the additional indignity of paying a charge for which they are not legally liable.
I would like to know please what Oldham Council is doing to be an exemplar local authority in this field to ensure that applicants and their families/carers receive the right information every time and that we have 100% take up, or as near as is possible, of the exemption for those who are eligible?
Look forward to your reply with interest.
Best wishes.
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE